Soccer: Edinburgh duo lead the way

The two Edinburgh clubs have forged ahead in the race to provide Scotland with the two 30,000-seater stadia needed to launch the bid to host Euro 2008.

Both Hibernian and Hearts are convinced they can increase the capacity of

their grounds to meet the criteria. But Aberdeen and the two Dundee clubs are in danger of missing out because they would have to take the more problematic and expensive route of relocation to greenfield sites.

The search for the extra stadia is the key issue facing the Scottish FA as they are convinced they will need at least six top-class grounds to make a successful bid. If the problem cannot be solved then the Scots would have to draft Ireland or Wales, or both, in as junior partners. The SFA are keen to go it alone and are hoping the Scottish Executive will provide an estimated £40m to be spent on the necessary ground redevelopment.

Currently only three football grounds have a capacity of more than 30,000 - Parkhead, Ibrox and Hampden Park, though and Murrayfield, the home of Scottish rugby union, is a fourth option.

The SFA are keen to spread the tournament around the country as much as possible and have even mooted the possibility of erecting huge temporary stands at Inverness Caledonian Thistle's tiny ground, which has three open sides.

Aberdeen's Pittodrie ground has been written off by DTZ Pieda Consulting, the company commissioned to produce a feasibility study for the SFA, as unsuitable for upgrade.

Dundee would love to quit dilapidated Dens Park to join neighbours United in a new greenfield stadium. But that scheme is being held up at the United end, not least because ex-chairman Jim McLean has yet to dispose of his majority shareholding and relinquish power. That has left the way open for Hibs and Hearts to put themselves forward as the solutions to the problem.